Death of Major General Rachid Chouaki in his cell at the Blida military prison

The former Director of Military Industries at the Ministry of National Defence, Rachid Chouaki, who was due to be detained in Blida military prison (50 km south of Algiers) on 13 July 2021, died yesterday, according to sources close to military justice. No information has been made public by the Ministry of Defence.

One of the key men of the late General Gaïd Salah, the former Chief of Staff of the Algerian Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence, Major General Rachid Chouaki, was arrested on the evening of Tuesday 13 July, after being questioned by the investigating magistrate at the Blida military court.

A day earlier, on Monday 12 July, the former Secretary General of the Ministry of National Defence, Major General Abdelhamid Ghriss, was remanded in custody by the Blilda military court. He is accused of corruption in connection with a drone contract in which the two generals are implicated.

Algeria has the highest number of senior political and military officials in prison for corruption, misappropriation of public funds, financial embezzlement and illicit enrichment. Three former prime ministers, around twenty ministers, around forty generals and around fifteen of the country's richest businessmen. Other ministers and generals on the run include former Energy Minister Chakib Kheli and the former head of the national gendarmerie, General Ghami Belksir.